A grant from the National Armed Forces Community Covenant Grant scheme will provide a new pastoral centre for a Bushey Heath primary school.

Hartsbourne Primary School, in Hartsbourne Road, has pupils from service families, so the staff applied to the Ministry of Defence for funding for its ‘decorated duck’ project.

The concept of a ‘decorated duck’ is to take a pre-fabricated building and embellish it to make it unique.

Following approval of the £62,435 grant, a new centre will be built with a timber framed and clad front entrance, covered veranda, storage room, cloakroom and a mural to be designed and painted by the children.

Potential activities planned for the new centre could include a history project, coffee mornings, a swap shop, counselling sessions and transition sessions for children leaving or joining the school.

Valerie Hudson, headteacher of Hartsbourne Primary School, said: "We are very excited by this unique project which will provide a wonderful opportunity for all our children and their families to work together and develop a variety of shared experiences.

"The weekend and after school working parties will certainly be a challenge for us all as we will be learning new skills and problem solving as we go; but we’re all ready to give it our best shot."